Considering setting up a trout tank... Advice?

[CretaceousCreatures101]

I have a 75 gallon tank that I'm not using and I thought it would be cool to try trout for a change. I've had native fish before but only bass, bluegill, perch, etc. I already have a powerhead (I originally bought it for my monster tank but it was too much for my gar and arowana to handle). I think it creates the right amount of current for trout. I have two 90 gallon filters so I'm assuming I'm good on filtration. I live in Michigan so I was wondering what species I could try and collect nearby? We have brown trout, brook trout, lake trout, and rainbows (I see rainbows more than anything in the creeks by my house). I've heard that rainbows can tolerate warmer water than the others so I was planning on going with those (plus they look a lot nicer imo). I don't have the money to buy a chiller right now so I was wondering if you guys think I'll need one? Also, assuming I started with two 5-6 inch trout, what else could I try housing with them?

 

[fatboy8]

First if you're going to do this you will need to keep it species specific so trout only. Your best bet is to get the fish from a hatchery. Also due to the size rainbows get you will not be able to house for life so you're either going to need a larger tank or a private pond to place them. Last summer I kept 4 rainbow trout fingerlings in my 90 gallon. I did not run a chiller had a strong powerhead with multiple air pumps to make sure the water was highly oxygenated. My tank was in the basement and normally ran around 66-68 degrees. I want to say around three to four times a week I would ice the water with three half gallon jugs that were frozen solid. I did also observe that the largest of the four who was around 5" with the rest around 3" was extremely agressive constantly attacking the other trout. The thing I really did not like about the trout was that they just swam in place 90% of the time occasionally they'd do a lap and then go right back into place. At the end of the summer before returning to college I donated the trout to a gentleman that had a private trout pond on his property. To sum it up they were awesome fish to look at on a daily basis as a hardcore trout fisherman. The only bummers being I couldn't house them for life and they were a little boring. If I could do it again which I am looking to, set the 90 up with a chiller next year and get two tiny brook trout at around 2-3" and house them for life. Hopefully you end up doing this I look forward to seeing this and don't let people discourage you.

 

[divemaster99]

My best advice, don't do it. All species of trout you listed need very cold water and while browns are the most tolerant of "warm" water you'll still kill them if the temp rises much over 70° which is difficult to avoid with a powerhead in the tank. Which is ironic because you need a powerhead or two for the necessary flow so really you'd NEED a chiller unless your room temp is ~66° or less year round. Also a 75 is only going to last for a little while, for adult brooks I'd go 125-180 gallons and for adult rainbows & browns 240-300 gallons. Oh and as for lake trout, just forget it entirely. Lake trout are pelagic fish and need at least a several thousand gallon aquarium with water no warmer than 52° and preferably around 42°. Lake Trout is a species in my top 3 list of fish that I do plan on keeping before I'm dead but that'll be after I've saved up 20 years of bonuses to invest in a chilled 30,000 gallon Great Lakes tank haha.

I personally was considering growing out brook trout in a 33 long this year but that'd be in a 64° in the summer basement with the trout ready to go into a 180 as soon as they hit 6-7".

 

[fatboy8]

I'm not really sure where you're getting your info on the powerheads heating the water as I did not have an issue with it at all the unchilled tank stayed between 66-68 degrees with it occassionally dipping to the 62-64 range. For the OP you're going to want that strong powerhead and over do the air pumps on your tank. Trout need well oxygenated water so the more the better and I think with that they will be able to handle around 70 degrees a little better. You could always attempt to get your hands on a strain of rainbows that supposedly handle the higher water temps but I wouldn't know where to begin to get them at. But after keeping trout first hand it wasn't as bad as everyone makes it seem. Just keep that temp around 68 degrees and below and you should be fine. And if you feel the need to freeze a few half gallon or gallon jugs and ice the water down when needed. I had also invested in a small fan for the lid of my tank that blew cool air under it and that really helped the water temp stay down.

 

[davenmandy]

Cool thread. Wish I could keep mine low enough without a chiller, wonder how much a fan helps. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread, absolutely love fshing for trout, a couple specs or browns would be amazing. I got a spare 180 with a sump, I just really doubt I can keep the temp down. Any idea how low is too low temp wise?

 

[divemaster99]

Cool thread. Wish I could keep mine low enough without a chiller, wonder how much a fan helps. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread, absolutely love fshing for trout, a couple specs or browns would be amazing. I got a spare 180 with a sump, I just really doubt I can keep the temp down. Any idea how low is too low temp wise?

Too low for trout isn't someting easily accomplished in captivity, lol. I'd say keep it above 40°f and you're fine for most species, they'll handle it higher but optimal activity from the fish will be achieved between 40-64°.

 

[divemaster99]

I'm not really sure where you're getting your info on the powerheads heating the water as I did not have an issue with it at all the unchilled tank stayed between 66-68 degrees with it occassionally dipping to the 62-64 range. For the OP you're going to want that strong powerhead and over do the air pumps on your tank. Trout need well oxygenated water so the more the better and I think with that they will be able to handle around 70 degrees a little better. You could always attempt to get your hands on a strain of rainbows that supposedly handle the higher water temps but I wouldn't know where to begin to get them at. But after keeping trout first hand it wasn't as bad as everyone makes it seem. Just keep that temp around 68 degrees and below and you should be fine. And if you feel the need to freeze a few half gallon or gallon jugs and ice the water down when needed. I had also invested in a small fan for the lid of my tank that blew cool air under it and that really helped the water temp stay down.

I have first hand experience with powerheads heating the water,even in the winter when my house is 66 the water in my riffle tank will be at 68-70° because of heat from the powerhead. Maybe your room was so cool that it didn't apply for your trout tank.

 

[fatboy8]

I have first hand experience with powerheads heating the water,even in the winter when my house is 66 the water in my riffle tank will be at 68-70° because of heat from the powerhead. Maybe your room was so cool that it didn't apply for your trout tank.

Might just be that powerhead I run a Fluval and my basement normally runs between 68-70 degrees sometimes lower. I do not have a basement cool enough for the water to stay cool without the things I did with it with the fan, the extra air pumps, strong powerhead, and the frozen jugs.

 

[divemaster99]

Might just be that powerhead I run a Fluval and my basement normally runs between 68-70 degrees sometimes lower. I do not have a basement cool enough for the water to stay cool without the things I did with it with the fan, the extra air pumps, strong powerhead, and the frozen jugs.

Hmm, maybe it's just the brand then. I'm using a cobalt on my riffle tank so maybe fluvals don't put off as much heat.

 

[Itsadeepbluesea]

In my experiences keeping trout is not as difficult as everyone says, as long as you have the proper equipment. I have kept brook trout in the past, and currently have a rainbow trout, which started at about 6 inches and is currently 14 inches. They do well with the correct care.

Cool water is a must, for my current rainbow trout his temp runs a high of 68-70 in summer and around 50 in the winter. He is currently in the basement so his tank runs slightly higher than ambient temp. I have 1 large pump at a bout 750gph in his tank and 1 large aeration stone which is about 10 inches long. The bottom is medium sizes crushed gravel with some various sized round stones (20-30 that I have collected over time). He has an ornamental stump and then a floating log (which he loves to hid in). You can get away without using a chiller if your basement conditions are conducive to these lower temps.

The biggest challenge with trout especially if they are native is food. The brookies I had were native and would absolutely not take pellets, the only non live food they would take was freeze dried krill. This made a diversified diet very difficult. Therefore I would recommend purchasing trout that are hatchery raised, since they come pellet trained.

If you have any questions feel free to PM me